what would cause the frige to smell bad other than food. I was told leaky pipes may cause foul odor?

Answer 1

Two people have already mentioned the "pan" under your refrigerator. That was my first guess. A lot of people (like my parents) don't realize their fridge has a small hole in the bottom to drain any water or spilled liquids. (This is how I solved their stinky fridge problem.) There's a pan to catch the run-off so the floor doesn't get ruined. They rarely overflow because usually there isn't much liquid that makes it down to the drain pan so it's often evaperated by the heat from the motor before any new liquid is added. Little bits of food eventually get into the drain and when there's enough water in the drain pan it starts to stink after awhile because things are rotting in the warm water.
*Take off the front grill. (lift and pop off or just pull, look it over first.) Clean it while you have it off.
*The drain pan should just slide out. Be careful, it's probably slimey and nasty. Clean well before putting it back in.
*Now you have to clean the inside of the fridge, most important is the bottom of it and that glass tray above the crisper drawers, because it collects moisture and other stuff you want to wipe off before it gets into your clean drain pan.
*While you have the drawers out to clean the bottom you should pour hot soapy water down the drain hole several times because you want to make sure there's nothing left in there to stink up your kitchen. (make sure you have something underneath to catch the hot water.)
*While you're down there you should check for excessive dust on the fan and other parts, because the motor has to work so much harder if it can't get any air, not to mention the possible fire hazard.
*Remember to put the drain pan back in place before you replace the grill.

One more refrigerator tip is that the door will seal a lot better if you clean the grooves in the rubber edging all around the door. Hot water is ususally enough to get the "sticky" out. This will actually make a difference in your refrigerator's performance, as will a clean motor area.

Answer 2

Try looking behind the fridge or under it> Might be a dead mouse or a lot of dust Bunny's getting to hot and burning off the dusty things underneath the fridge. If it is an older fridge the pan under the fridge can stink if it is not cleaned.

Answer 3

Hard to say--but if it was me --I would take it outside and wash it out with hot water/bleach/soap. Spray it out with the garden hose. Spray the cond. coil underneath and drain pan. Wipe it down with a couple bath towels. Leave it sit perhaps with the doors open facing the sun all afternoon to air out good. Use covered containers, or wrap to store food in the ref. Clean spills up. Check for outdated food still being kept=throw it out. Good Luck.

Answer 4

Do you see any line going up the wall behind the refrigerator above the electrical outlet? Does it feel warm? That could cause an odor, too. Could be a possible fire.

Answer 5

I suppose if the pipe was leaking inside your fridge...

Clean up your fridge, seal the smelly food better.

Answer 6

yes also the ice maker will give off an odor stale water.

Answer 7

put an open box of baking soda in it